A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Thursday,
November 21,
2019
Photo by
Doris High
"The
Value Of Two"
Message summary: Let us value and practice these three principles found in our Bible text.
For many
years I (Stephen, not Brooksyne) have
customarily worn suspenders. In my case they're not so
much a fashion accent but instead serve a practical
purpose; holding my britches up!
In the course of our chaplain visitation an employee asked me, "Why were the suspenders arrested?" Initially I couldn't tell what in the world she might mean. I shook my head, "I don't know. Why?" She looked up with a smile and answered, "For holding up the pants." Well, that sure brought on a good round of laughter!
Ken is an intern choir director at our church and he has a distinctive that really stands out. He wears bright red suspenders! He is in his mid life but moved down from Maine to get additional music training. He is originally from my home state of Missouri. I (Stephen) especially commend his good taste in gallusses.
Most of the time
you see suspenders attached to the pants on both
sides, at least in the front, but a certain group of
Old Order Amish in the Big Valley of central
Pennsylvania are characterized by wearing them on only
one side, which sure doesn't seem very comfortable to
me, let alone functional. I would sure like to know
the rationale behind this but have never been able to
find out.
An old Mennonite fellow humorously asserts that suspenders are a part of being Biblically dressed based on our daily text. "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9,10).
Daily
prayer: Father, how good it is to
have another come alongside us, to encourage us,
listen and pray for that which concerns us, lend
a hand when we're in need and occasionally bring
friendly reproof when it's in our best interest.
There are many who walk alone and have no one
looking out for them. When we see such a person
help us not to look the other way to avoid him
or her. Instead speak to our hearts about how we
can be Your hand extended to that one who walks
alone, who has fallen and can't get up. Show us
how to reach out our hand, extend our heart, and
in a practical way show them that we care and
want to be a blessing in the name of Christ.
Amen.
Message summary: Let us value and practice these three principles found in our Bible text.
"Two
are better than one, because they have a good return
for their labor: If either of them falls down, one
can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and
has no one to help them up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9,10).
For many
years I (Stephen, not Brooksyne) have
customarily worn suspenders. In my case they're not so
much a fashion accent but instead serve a practical
purpose; holding my britches up!In the course of our chaplain visitation an employee asked me, "Why were the suspenders arrested?" Initially I couldn't tell what in the world she might mean. I shook my head, "I don't know. Why?" She looked up with a smile and answered, "For holding up the pants." Well, that sure brought on a good round of laughter!
Ken is an intern choir director at our church and he has a distinctive that really stands out. He wears bright red suspenders! He is in his mid life but moved down from Maine to get additional music training. He is originally from my home state of Missouri. I (Stephen) especially commend his good taste in gallusses.
Most of the time
you see suspenders attached to the pants on both
sides, at least in the front, but a certain group of
Old Order Amish in the Big Valley of central
Pennsylvania are characterized by wearing them on only
one side, which sure doesn't seem very comfortable to
me, let alone functional. I would sure like to know
the rationale behind this but have never been able to
find out.An old Mennonite fellow humorously asserts that suspenders are a part of being Biblically dressed based on our daily text. "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9,10).
In my
case I wear suspenders and a belt so I indeed report
that two are better than one and if either of them
falls down, one can help the other up. One
of my most stressful times is going through airport
security and having to take both my belt and
suspenders off.*
Now to be clear I don't think our daily Bible verse has anything to do with suspenders since all the Bible time pictures I've ever seen show people, including men, wearing robes but it has a vitally helpful truth regarding the value of two.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor". In life there are some jobs we do solo but what a blessing to work with someone else. It increases the return on our labor. We can apply this principle to many areas of life including marriage, the family, work and church.
"If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." We have all probably experienced the blessing of a hand reached out to help us up when we fall down. But I don't take this in just a physical sense but in a spiritual/emotional sense as well. I have often been the recipient of a helpful outstretched hand during a time of trouble.
"But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" Indeed this is a sad state. Somehow I picture the old cheesy 80's commercial for Life Call of the lady who had fallen and cries out "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up".
Now to be clear I don't think our daily Bible verse has anything to do with suspenders since all the Bible time pictures I've ever seen show people, including men, wearing robes but it has a vitally helpful truth regarding the value of two.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor". In life there are some jobs we do solo but what a blessing to work with someone else. It increases the return on our labor. We can apply this principle to many areas of life including marriage, the family, work and church.
"If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." We have all probably experienced the blessing of a hand reached out to help us up when we fall down. But I don't take this in just a physical sense but in a spiritual/emotional sense as well. I have often been the recipient of a helpful outstretched hand during a time of trouble.
"But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" Indeed this is a sad state. Somehow I picture the old cheesy 80's commercial for Life Call of the lady who had fallen and cries out "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up".
Let us value and
practice these three principles found in our Bible
text:
- Value other people
in your life. We are better together.
- Be ready to help another who has fallen and to receive the blessing of an outstretched hand when you fall.
- Be especially sensitive to those who have fallen and have no one to help them up.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, how good it is to
have another come alongside us, to encourage us,
listen and pray for that which concerns us, lend
a hand when we're in need and occasionally bring
friendly reproof when it's in our best interest.
There are many who walk alone and have no one
looking out for them. When we see such a person
help us not to look the other way to avoid him
or her. Instead speak to our hearts about how we
can be Your hand extended to that one who walks
alone, who has fallen and can't get up. Show us
how to reach out our hand, extend our heart, and
in a practical way show them that we care and
want to be a blessing in the name of Christ.
Amen.*
Brooksyne's note: Twelve years ago we went
with Ester to Philadelphia to get her citizenship.
We were being searched upon entering the federal
building and had to do the usual emptying of
pockets, removing watches, and laying items on the
conveyer belt for inspection. When Stephen went
through the security magnetic machine it beeped so
he was sent through again, this time with his
suspenders removed. (Stephen had recently taken off
about ten pounds so his suspenders were pretty
important for keeping him put together as he walked
about.) He walked through again and passed the
inspection. He quickly picked up his
suspenders and tried to put them on again, but due
to the orders being incessantly shouted by the
guards, "Stay to the right, Keep the line moving,
Sir, move over here, don't hold up the line" he got
quite discombobulated as he was being pushed through
and he was unable to get them back on. In the
maddening process his pants were starting to fall
down. He had one hand on his suspenders and the
other holding up his britches (Oklahoma/Missouri
term) and was having big troubles. I caught sight of
him and I burst into uncontrollable laughter. His
face was beet red as he was trying to work through
his dilemma. I explained to the security office what
was happening and he said with a dry smile, "I sure
hope he doesn't make me have to do my job"
(referring to arresting him for "indecent
exposure.") Well, he eventually was able to get out
of the line and get himself put back together.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Better Together"
Video
Gaither Vocal Band
For those of you
unfamiliar with my sense of
humor of course I know you
can't determine what people
wore in the Bible times
through Bible pictures!
Special
Thanksgiving
Resources
We offer these resources to families and church leaders to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will post these resources through Thanksgiving Day here in the US (November 28).
"Thankful
For The Thorns": A
family reading and
exercise that is a
wonderful way to give a
thoughtful focus around
your Thanksgiving Table.
(Note: You will need a
good reader who should be
given the story ahead of
time to review so that
it's read with expression
and clarity.) For many of
us the Thanksgiving
celebration typically
includes family coming
together for a huge meal
and hopefully a heartfelt
prayer of thankfulness.
However it can often be
difficult to have a
spiritually oriented
conversation. Why not add
some stimulating
discussion about the ways
God has worked in your
life over the past year!
Here's an idea for sharing
together around the table
the theme of "Thankful for
the Thorns" (printable
webpage)."A Thanksgiving family exercise" (pdf) We have used this questionnaire as a stimulus for discussion among family members in the past in our home. We encourage you to share results around the table at Thanksgiving before or after the meal.
A Thanksgiving prayer: Written by Joe Sherer, a pastor friend of ours and shared as the benediction at our community Thanksgiving Eve service many years ago. (blog post) For those who enjoy written prayers this would be a beautiful prayer to read together at the Thanksgiving table.
A Thanksgiving Scripture reading: A selection of Old and New Testament readings dealing with thankfulness appropriate for church, family and personal readings. (pdf) (Suitable for printing out and copying.)
A Suggestion for a Family Tradition from our long-time friend Bob Southard: After the turkey, the cranberries, the pie, we all get out our Bibles to read our favorite thanksgiving verse. From the youngest to the oldest we share God’s Word and tell why it is so special to us!
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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